Manchester United starlet Phil Jones admits he is flattered by
comparisons that have been drawn between him and Duncan
Edwards.
Edwards died aged 21 in the Munich air disaster, but despite his
tender age was already considered one of the best defenders in
Europe and was an England international.
And since his arrival at Old Trafford, some have suggested Jones
is similar in style to Edwards.
"It's brilliant for me to even be considered as being a player
who could become as good as Duncan Edwards was," Jones told the
Daily Telegraph.
"It is flattering and, for young lads like myself and my
team-mates to be compared to great young players of the past, it is
an amazing feeling.
"People have told me about Duncan, facts and figures about him,
but I obviously know what he means to this club.
"When you come into training in the morning, knowing that people
are talking about you in the same breath as players of the Busby
era, it is fantastic, but I can't let it affect me. I have to play
my own game and continue to do what I have been doing so far.
"I wanted to come here and play. I didn't want to come from
playing every week at Blackburn to becoming a bit-part player at
United, but I knew I probably had to do that at the start.
"I wanted to come to United because I felt that the club was
right for me, so if I had to wait, I was prepared for it.
"One of my strong points is that, no matter what anyone says
about me, it will not affect me, it's because I believe in my
ability and what I can achieve.
"I know I am good enough to be here, otherwise the manager
wouldn't have paid the money he spent to bring me to the club.
"It doesn't matter what anyone tells me, I know that I can rely
on myself. It comes from my parents. They are the same
strong-minded people as I am and I just don't let anyone bring me
down.
"I want to be a successful player. I want to be remembered one
day as a great player, good athlete, good professional. I don't
want to be a player that people don't remember, but I have to work
hard for that. I have to do some grafting, but it is something I am
willing to do."
This is just too much lol. How can Jones be compared to
the incomparable Duncan Edwards.
